Filing device



Jan. 28, 1947.

M. WEIL FILING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1944 INVENTORQ Patented Jan. 28, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILING DEVICE Marcel Weil, New York. N. Y. Application April 15, 1944, Serial No. 531,153

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to filing devices and more particularly to devices, cases or boxes carrying index cards, papers, or any other substantially flat articlesto be successively arranged and in stacked relation.

It is an object of this invention to provide follower means cooperable with one or more rela tively narrow slots which extend into and lengthwise of the base plate of a filing device, therby only inordinately affecting the article car'- rying surface of the base plate and practically keeping the latter smooth and uninterrupted.

It. is a further object of this invention to provide follower means which is sturdy, simple and inexpensive in constructionand includes as integral parts thereof a plurality of lug members cooperable with the base of the filing device which filing devices embodying the invention in different modified forms.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary and sectional view of the follower on somewhat enlarged scale and shown in the position for sliding along the base plate of the filling device.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 7 with a stack of articles abutting against the follower which in turn assumes a braking position relatively to the base plate of the filing device.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a box H! for a filing device which has the end or front and rear walls II and I2, side walls l3 and I4 and botguides said follower lugs within small slots cut a predetermined distance and in angular relation to one another through the surface into the material of the base plate.

It is another object of the invention to provide follower means which is prevented from undesired disengagement, tilting or removal from the base plate of the filing device along which it is adapted to slide.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide means for manually releasing the follower when the same is to be moved or slid along the base plate and to brake said follower after it has assumed a desired position relatively to the base plate.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means for improving the follower for filing devices, for simplifying the latter and reducing the space for installing the same in the base plate.

These and" other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawing which illustrates certain forms of embodiments thereof. These forms are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the 'same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliableresults, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalites of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a filing device (part thereof being broken away) embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is' a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the device of Fig. 1. A

Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective the follower employable in the filing device of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of tom. wall 15a which walls are secured to base plate l5 in any convenient manner, such as by glue, tacks and the like. While said walls ll, I2, I3, [4 and I 511 may be made from cardboard or any other inexpensive material, base plate I5 is preferred to be manufactured from wood, strong paste board, plastic substance or composition adaptedto be out by means of a saw blade to provide therein oblique and oblong slots or grooves I6, [1.

Surface l8 of base plate 15, which is adapted to slidably receive and support index cards or any other flat articles in substantially upward position and in successive arrangement, is smooth and practically uninterrupted since the same carries slots l6 and I1, each of very narrow width.

Slots I 6 and I I are disposed in angular relation to each other, are arranged spaced apart from each other and extend from the surface [8 of base plate I5 into the center portion of the latter a predetermined depth IQ for a purpose about to be described.

A follower member 20 made from sheet metal or other bendable material, substantially rectangularfin shape, is provided with a slidin portion 2| from the lateral ends of which extend downwardly and inwardly bent lugs 22,- 23 which are disposed-with respect to each other in substantially angular relation, as are the aforementioned slots I6 and H in base plate I5. The length of lugs 22 and 23 correspond approximately to the depth of'slots l6 l1, H

As is apparent fromFigs. 2 and 3, upwardly extending plate 24 of follower 20 is inclined with respect to the base plate surface It! and to flat sliding portion 2| which, in turn, bears on the center portion of said surface '18 to slide there along and to guide lateral ends or lugs 22, 23 in lengthwise direction of slots or cuts l6 and H. Lugs 22, 23 have substantially the. same width as that of said flat part or portion 2|.

n It is well understood that in order to assemble the filing device, all thatis. to be done is to insert from one end of base plate l5 follower lugs :22, 23 in slots l6 and I1 and to then secure base plate l5 to bottom, side and end walls I 5a, [3,

M and H, l2 of box IE9. Base plate l5 corresponds to the length of bottom wall l5a and may also be of substantially the same width thereof.

Follower plate 24 may be of a width substantially corresponding to the width of box I 11 but may preferably be shorter than the height of box Ill. It is well apparent that due to this construction of the follower member with its lugs 22, 23 penetrating a sufficient distance (depth l9) into slots or cuts l6 and H, the member is effectively prevented from tilting on base plate [5 in lateral direction or undesired removal from the base plate IS in upward direction. However, the width of lugs 22, 23 permits the plate to be swung or tilted in endwise direction of base plate I5 as indicated in Fig. 8, thereby bringing about frictional engagement of lugs 22, 23' with the walls defining slots l5 and l! in base plate It and with surface 18 of the latter. This position (Fig. 8) is normally assumed-when a stack of articles 25, such as index cards, abuts against the upright plate 24. Upon swinging movement of plate 24 together with slide portion 2! and lugs 22 23 in direction of arrow A and into position of Fig. '7, the slide 2] of follower 2!] comes to lie flush with the surface I8, and follower 20 may then be displaced a desired distance for adjusting or similar purpose lengthwise of base plate l5 and along slots [6 and H thereof.

Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate various modified embodiments of the invention.

According to Fig.4 the follower 40 is made substantially of the same material and has about the same shape as that shown in Fig. 3. However, slide with plate 4] is somewhat shorter than plate 24 and its 1ug42is bent outwardly and downwardly, whereas lug 43 is positioned at a lateral end of follower plate 4!. This arrangement has the advantage that base'plate 45 when inserted in filing box 44 may be made somewhat narrower than bottomwall lfia, thereby leaving a lateral guide slot or gap 4'! into which lug 43 projects, while within the confines of the surface of the base plate 45 only a. single groove. or slot 46 may be provided, which angularly extends with respect to slot 41, is'deep enough and positioned at such location of the base plate so as to prevent any lifting or removal of follower from the base plate =45 when the latter is secured withinbox44.

As seen in Figs. 4 to tithe follower plate is shorter than the Width between the side Walls of the filing device. Itis well apparent thatthis follower plate .may also be made to be guided along the inner face of said side walls, if so desired.-

Fig. shows follower 50 within been and pro.

.vided with lugs 52, ESdepending from the ,ends

of the sliding portion of follower plate 5| and arranged in angular relation toone another.

Fig. 6 indicates a follower 60 whose'plate 6| has lateral. and inwardly bent end lugs 62, 63

had. Otherwise, operation and result contemplated by this invention are substantially the same with respect to the other filing devices shown.

It is well understood that the base plate or support herein referred to may form the bottom plate proper of the filing device ill, and further such plate is not necessarily to be positioned on the bottom of device iii, but may be disposed at or form one of the side walls of said filing device. The width and length of the lugs and the direction in which they extend may be, of course, varied, keeping, however, always in mind that the follower should be thereby impeded from disengagement or removal from the support or plate with which the lugs engage.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore disclosed or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A filing device comprising an elongated base plate having a center portion, a follower provided with an upright plate, a slide connected to and forming an angle with said upright plate, said center portion of said base plate being provided with a pairof spaced cuts forming an angle with each other and converging toward each other, said cuts extending lengthwise of and into the surface of said base plate, said slide being provided with a substantially flat part for contact with the surface of said base plate and terminating into downwardly bent lateral ends having substantially the same width as that of said flat part, said lateral ends forming lugs. said lugs slanting toward each other and engaging said converging cuts, whereby said follower may be displaced by moving said flat part of said slide along the surface of said base plate, while said lugs are prevented from disengagement with said cuts in the direction of said. upright plate.

2. A filing device comprising an elongated base plate having a center portion, a follower provided with an upright plate having a width substantially corresponding to the width of said base plate, a slide connected to and forming an angle with said upright plate, said center portion of said base plate being provided with a pair of spaced cuts forming an angle with each other and converging toward each other, said cuts extending lengthwise of and into the surface of said base plate, said slide being provided with a substantially flat part for contact with the surface of said base plate and terminating into downwardly bent lateral ends having substantially the same width as that of said flat part, said lateral ends forming lugs each extending in an angle with respect to said flat part, said lugs slanting toward each other and engaging said converging cuts, the length of said lugs corresponding substantially to the depth of said cuts, whereby said follower may be displaced by moving said flat part of said slide alon the surface of said base plate, while said lugs are prevented from disengagement with said cuts in the direction of said upright plate.

MARCEL WEIL. 

